-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS got off to a positive start on this first Friday of the season, winning each of the six half-hours in households, total viewers and adults 18-49. Ghost Whisperer debuted with a 7.4/13 in households, 11.39 million viewers and a 2.9/10 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m., beating the season-premiere of NBC’s Dateline (HH: #2, 6.3/11; Viewers: #2, 8.58 million; A18-49: #2, 2.1/ 7) by 17 percent in households, 2.81 million viewers and 38 percent among adults 18-49. Former time period occupant Joan of Arcadia opened the season on the comparable year-ago evening with a 5.7/11 in households, 8.48 million viewers and a 2.4/ 9 among adults 18-49.

Week two of CBS’ Threshold (HH: #2, 5.6/10; Viewers: #1, 8.96 million; A18-49: #1, 2.6/ 8) and the debut of NBC’s Three Wishes (HH: #1, 6.3/11; Viewers: #2, 8.67 million; A18-49: #2, 2.5/ 8) were neck-and-neck from 9-10 p.m., with Threshold first in the hour in total viewers and adults 18-49, and Three Wishes dominant among adults 18-49. Compared to the year-ago time period occupants (CBS: JAG, NBC: Third Watch), both Threshold and Three Wishes had mixed results. Take a look:

Opposite CBS and NBC, ABC aired two episodes of Supernanny, including the season-premiere at 8 p.m. Superanny ranked a modest third overall from 8-10 p.m., with a 4.2/ 8 in households, 6.17 million viewers and a 2.1/ 7 among adults 18-49,

At 10 p.m., the second-season premiere of CBS’ Numb3rs shared dominance with ABC’s 20/20, while the series-premiere of NBC’s Inconceivable ranked a distant third. Take a look:

Not only did Inconceivable pale in comparison to the series-premiere of former failed occupant Medical Investigation (HH: 5.6/10, Viewers: 8.27 million, A18-49: 3.2/10 on Sept. 24, 2004), it dropped in the second half hour by 9 percent in households (4.7/ 8 to 4.3/ 8), 705,000 viewers (6.73 to 6.03 million) and 5 percent among adults 18-49 (2.2/ 7 to 2.1/ 6).

UPN was on the map courtesy of Friday Night Smackdown! at a 3.0/ 5 in households (#4t), 4.52 million viewers (#4) and a 1.7/6 among adults 18-49 (#4). In comparison, repeats of America’s Next Top Model and Veronica Mars on the year-ago evening averaged just a 1.3/ 2 in households, 1.76 million viewers and a 0.8/ 3 among adults 18-49.

The one-hour season-premiere of Fox’s Bernie Mac was left at the starting gate, meanwhile, with a 2.6/ 5 in households (#5), 3.78 million viewers (#5) and a 1.7/ 6 (#4) among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. Although the series-premiere of lead-out Killer Instinct (HH: #4, 3.5/ 6; Viewers: #4, 5.25 million; A18-49: #4, 1.8/ 5) was also modest, it did build from Bernie Mac by 35 percent in households, 1.47 million viewers and 6 percent among adults 18-49. Former 9 p.m. occupant The Complex Malibu averaged a mere 1.7/ 3 in households, 2.33 million viewers and a 1.1/ 3 among adults 18-49 on the year-ago evening.

-Ratings Breakdown:
On this first Saturday of the new season, results reflect what is expected all season…not much. CBS’ combination of repeats of Cold Case and Without A Trace, and the season-premiere of 48 Hours Mystery won the evening in households and total viewers, while repeats of theatrical Shrek and Law & Order: SVU were enough for NBC to win the evening among adults 18-49. The Cold Case encore opened with a 5.0/ 9 in households (#1), 7.34 million viewers (#1) and a 1.7/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8 p.m., followed by Without A Trace R (HH: #1, 5.8/11; Viewers: #1, 8.50 million; A18-49: #3, 2.0/ 6 ) and 48 Hours Mystery (HH: #1t, 5.2/10; Viewers: #2, 7.61 million; A18-49: #2, 1.9/ 7) from 9-11 p.m. Shrek averaged a 2.6/ 7 in households (#3), 5.84 million viewers (#3) and a 2.1/ 7 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m., followed by the Law & Order: SVU encore at a 5.2/10 in households (#1t), 7.72 million viewers (#1) and a 2.8/ 9 among adults 18-49 (#1) at 10 p.m.

-Ratings Breakdown:
Led by Desperate Housewives, ABC won Sunday, beating No. 2 CBS by a considerable 22 percent in the overnights, 4.34 million viewers and 95 percent among adults 18-49. The second-season premiere of Desperate Housewives went through the roof, with a whopping 19.2/26 in the overnights, 28.17 million viewers and a 12.2/26 among adults 18-49 from 9-10 p.m. Compared to last year’s already potent series-opener on Oct. 3, 2004 (Overnights: 16.6/23; Viewers: 20.03 million; A18-49: 8.6/20), that was an increase of 16 percent in the overnights, 8.14 million viewers and 42 percent among adults 18-49. (Reminder: Total viewers and adults 18-49 from last night are based on the fast affiliate ratings; last year is the final nationals).

Thanks to Desperate Housewives, season two of lead-out Grey’s Anatomy also scored a considerable victory, with a 13.3/20 in the overnights, 19.53 million viewers and an 8.6/21 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m. Earlier in the evening on ABC were two episodes of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as follows:

CBS got an unexpected boost early in the evening, with an approximate 53-minute NFL Football overrun averaging a dominant 14.6/24 in the overnights in the 7 p.m. hour. That led into the season-premiere of 60 Minutes at an also first-place 12.1/18 in the overnights at 8 p.m., followed by the third season-premiere of Cold Case (Overnights: #2, 9.7/13 at 9 p.m.), and made-for Martha Behind Bars at a diluted (and third-place) 5.4/ 9 from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Due to the football overrun, fast affiliate averages for CBS may not be accurate, and are therefore excluded. As a basis for comparison, overnight averages for 60 Minutes, Cold Case and The Sunday Movie versus their 2004 season-openers are as follows:

On NBC, a night of season-premieres had mixed results. Older-skewing Dateline opened with a weak 5.7/ 9 in the overnights (#3), 7.88 million viewers (#3) and a 1.4/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#4) at 7 p.m., followed by the seventh-season premiere of relocated The West Wing at a 7.3/10 in the overnights (#3), 8.85 million viewers (#4) and a 2.4/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#4) at 8 p.m. Not only did The West Wing dip considerably from it’s year-ago opener on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004 at 9 p.m. (Overnights: 10.2/14; Viewers: 12.27 million; A18-49: 4.0/ 9), it was down 20 percent among adults 18-49 from the season-premiere of former (and canceled) occupant American Dreams. Take a look:

At 9 p.m., while the fourth-season premiere of NBC’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Overnights: #3, 8.3/11; Viewers: #3, 10.33 million; A18-49: #3, 3.0/ 7) performed moderately opposite ABC’s Desperate Housewives, the also fourth-season launch of lead-out Crossing Jordan perked up to a second-place 9.3/14 in the overnights, 13.16 million viewers and a 3.7/ 9 among adults 18-49 in the less competitive 10 p.m. hour.

Despite the heavier than usual competition, Fox’s night of Sunday comedies was close to recent early season launch levels. Take a look:

Worth positively noting was growth of 12 percent in the overnights, 940,000 viewers and 21 percent among adults 18-49 for Family Guy out of The War at Home despite facing Desperate Housewives.

Over at last-place the WB, season eight of Charmed (yes – time flies) opened with a diluted 3.4/ 5 in the overnights, 3.98 million viewers and a 1.9/ 4 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m., followed by the season two launch of Blue Collar TV at a miniscule 1.9/ 3 in the overnights, 2.68 million viewers and a 1.1/ 2 among adults 18-49. That led into a repeat of Blue Collar TV at a 2.0/ 3 in the overnights, 2.71 million viewers and a 1.1/ 2 among adults 18-49 at 9:30 p.m.

Earlier in the evening, back-to-back repeats of the WB’s Reba scored a 2.2/ 4 in the overnights, 2.11 million viewers and a 0.9/ 2 among adults 18-49 from 7-8 p.m.

The debut of Everybody Hates Chris, meanwhile, goes down in the record books as the most-watched sitcom ever on UPN, with a third-place finish (behind Survivor and a repeat of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars: Dance-Off) in households (4.7/ 8), total viewers (7.78 million) and adults 18-49 (3.2/ 9) at 8 p.m.. The one-hour season-premiere of NBC’s Joey was left in the dust, meanwhile, with a 5.5/ 9 in households, 7.80 million viewers and a 3.3/ 9 among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. Head-to-head against Everybody Hates Chris, Joey trailed by 300,000 viewers and 6 percent among adults 18-49.

Over at ABC, the Dancing With the Stars: Dance-Off Results Show (HH: #2, 7.2/11; Viewers: #2, 10.48 million; A18-49: #3, 2.6/ 6 at 9 p.m.) lifted the growing network to its most watched season opening Thursday in 4 years.

UPN:
8:00 p.m. One on One
8:30 p.m. All of Us
9:00 p.m. Girlfriends
9:30 p.m. Half & Half

WB:
8:00 p.m. 7th Heaven
9:00 p.m. Just Legal

TV Tidbits:
Notes of Interest

-First Casualty of 2005-06:
Fox has canceled Chris O’Donnell dramedy Head Cases after just two telecasts. Nanny 911 will air in the time period on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, and Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy effective on Nov. 2 after baseball season ends.

-George Lopez and Freddie Delayed One Week:
ABC will postpone the season/series premieres of George Lopez and Freddie this Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. in place of a repeat of the season-premiere of Lost.

-Forrest Whitaker Joins The Shield:
Emmy winner Forest Whitaker has been added to the cast of FX’s The Shield this season as an ambitious newcomer who is paired with Michael Chiklis’ anything but easy-going Vic Mackey.

-Everybody Hates Chris on Google:
In the event you missed UPN’s Everybody Hates Chris, the best new sitcom this season, is will be screened on Google Video for four days beginnings today. Viewers can visit http://video.google.com/chris.

TV Trivia Time:
Desperate Housewives Meets Everwood

Which Desperate Housewife was killed off in the first episode of the WB’s Everwood?

-Friday’s Losers:
Dateline (NBC), Bernie Mac (Fox), What I Like About You (WB), Malcolm in the Middle (Fox), Killer Instinct (Fox), Twins (WB)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
Despite airing repeats of Threshold and Numb3rs, CBS scored another three-tier Friday victory, with a first-place finish in households, total viewers and adults 18-49. One of the biggest surprise hits of the season, Ghost Whisperer, opened for CBS with a typically dominant 7.4/14 in households, 11.23 million viewers and a 2.9/11 among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. A repeat of Threshold followed with a 4.4/ 8 in households (#2t), 6.57 million viewers (#2), and a third-place 1.8/ 6 among adults 18-49 at 9 p.m. At 10 p.m. the encore telecast of Numb3rs (HH: #1, 6.2/11; Viewers: #1, 9.46 million; A18-49: #1, 2.7/ 9) bested a repeat of NBC’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent (HH: #2, 5.8/10; Viewers: #2, 8.35 million; A18-49: #3, 2.3/ 8) by 7 percent in households, 1.11 million viewers and 17 percent among adults 18-49. Also in the 10 p.m. hour was ABC’s 20/20 at a 5.5/10 in households (#3), 7.86 million viewers (#3) and a second-place 2.5/ 8 among adults 18-49.

First in the 9 p.m. hour was NBC’s Three Wishes, at a 5.8/10 in households, 8.51 million viewers and a 2.3/ 7 among adults 18-49, which built from lead-in Dateline by 18 percent in households, 1.57 million viewers and 53 percent among adults 18-49. Elsewhere, ABC sitcoms Hope & Faith (HH: #3, 4.4/ 8; Viewers: #2, 6.58 million; A18-49: #2, 2.1/ 7) and Hot Properties (HH: #2, 4.4/ 8; Viewers: #3, 6.45 million; A18-49: #2, 2.2/ 7) were close to recent levels. Although the retention for Hot Properties out of Hope & Faith is positive, creatively the sitcom (if you can call it that) is nothing more than a “D” level version of Designing Women. If Nicole Sullivan is lucky, maybe she can get back on King of Queens before it’s too late.

On Fox, Killer Instinct at 9 p.m. is waiting for the axe to swing, with a 2.9/ 5 in households (#4), 4.19 million viewers (#5) and a 1.4/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#4). The WB’s Reba remained on the downside at a 2.4/ 4 in households (#6), 3.57 million viewers (#6) and a 1.5/ 5 among adults 18-49 (#5t), followed by the abysmal Twins with a 2.0/ 4 in households (#6), 2.94 million viewers (#6) and a 1.4/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#5) at 9:30 p.m.

-Ratings Breakdown:
Led by Grey’s Anatomy, ABC remained in the Sunday winner’s circle despite the absence of an original installment of Desperate Housewives. Anyone who thinks the sophomore medical drama is just riding on the coattails of Desperate Housewives should note growth of 18 percent in the overnights, 2.30 million viewers and 35 percent among adults 18-49. Take a look:

On CBS, although 60 Minutes (Overnights: #1, 10.4/16; Viewers: #1, 12.48 million; A18-49: #3, 2.6/ 7) and a repeat of Cold Case (Overnights: #2, 9.3/13; Viewers: #2, 13.65 million; A18-49: #3, 3.2/ 8) were competitive from 7-9 p.m., made-for Vampire Bats could not take a bite out of the 9-11 p.m. competition, with a mere 4.3/ 7 in the overnights, 7.11 million viewers and a 2.3/ 6 among adults 18-49. Vampire Bats declined in every half-hour as follows:

A repeat of NBC’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent benefited opposite the encore telecast of Desperate Housewives, with a 10.7/15 in the overnights (#2), 13.83 million viewers (#2) and a 4.3/10 among adults 18-49 (#2) at 9 p.m. Comparatively, that build from an original installment of fading The West Wing (Overnights: #3, 7.1/10; Viewers: #3, 8.67 million; A18-49: #4, 2.4/ 5 at 8 p.m.) by 44 percent in the overnights, 5.16 million viewers and 79 percent among adults 18-49. Lead-out Crossing Jordan did not take advantage of the improved Criminal Intent, with a second-place finish in the overnights (8.8/14), total viewers (12.45 million) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10) at 10 p.m.

At 7 p.m., NBC’s Dateline lagged at a fourth-place 5.2/ 8 in the overnights, 7.52 million viewers and a 1.8/ 5 among adults 18-49.

Over at Fox, which plugged up the baseball-less evening with repeats of its regularly scheduled 8-10 p.m. sitcoms, an approximate one-hour football overrun averaged an 11.9/18 in the overnights from 7-8 p.m. That led into the Simpsons encore at a 7.1/10 in the overnights (#3), and approximately 9.15 million viewers (#3) with a 4.6/11 among adults 18-49 (#2), followed by repeats of The War at Home (Overnights: #4, 4.2/ 6; Viewers: #4, 5.68 million; A18-49: #3, 2.7/ 6), Family Guy (Overnights: #4, 4.9/ 7; Viewers: #4, 5.99 million; A18-49: #3, 3.1/ 7) and American Dad (Overnights: #4, 4.3/ 6; Viewers: #4, 5.45 million; A18-49: #3, 2.9/ 7) from 8:30-10 p.m.

-Final Thursday Nationals:
Despite airing a repeat of CSI, CBS dominated Thursday by huge proportions, beating No. 2 NBC by 120 percent in households, 12.41 million viewers and 79 percent among adults 18-49. Considering ABC’s Alias at 8 p.m. sunk to a 4.5/ 7 in households (#2), 6.55 million viewers (#2) and a fourth-place 2.2/ 6 among adults 18-49, the return of Dancing With the Stars in January in place of the tired spy drama could not come soon enough.

-Judge Maria Lopez in Sept. 2006:
Sony Pictures Television will introduce Judge Maria Lopez, a first-run half-hour strip, to the growing syndicated court show genre in Sept. 2006. Known for her outspoken, no-nonsense approach on the bench (a trait, no doubt, common among all court show hosts), Lopez was the first female Hispanic judge appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court. To-date, Lopez has been sold to stations in 7 of the top 10 markets (and approximately 35 percent of the country). Stations include WPIX/New York, WCIU/Chicago, KYW-WPSG/Philadelphia, KBHK-KPIX/San Francisco, WBZ-WSBK/Boston, KTVT-KTXA/Dallas and WUPA/Atlanta.

TV Trivia Time:
Happy Halloween

Name the series known for its Treehouse of Horror Halloween themed episodes.

a) Alfred Hitchcock Presents
b) King of the Hill
c) One Step Beyond
d) The Simpsons
e) The Twilight Zone

The answer to Friday’s question…

Which one of the following five choices was not part of Lucy’s Vitameatavegamin pitch on I Love Lucy?

a) Are you tired?
b) Rundown?
c) Listless?
d) Do you konk out at parties?
e) Are you unpopular?

Is d) Do you konk out at parties? The actual line was “Do you poop out at parties”

All together now…

Hello Friends
I’m your Vitameatavegamin girl
Are you tired, rundown, listless?
Do you poop out at parties?
Are you unpopular?
The answer to all your problems are in this little bottle.
Vitameatavegamin
Vitameatavegamin contains meat, protein, vegetables, and minerals
Yes with Vitameatavegamin you can spoon your way to health
All you do is take one spoonful after every meal
It's so tasty too
It's just like candy
So why don't you join the thousands of happy peppy people and get a great big bottle of Vitameatavegamin

Thought some people would be interested. Glad Tyra is doing poorly, though :)

mediaweek.com

National Ratings in Syndication:
Week of Nov. 14, 2005

Based on ratings in syndication for the week of Nov. 14, worth noting was every single court show either setting or tying season high household ratings. What follows are the top 30 rated syndicated shows for the week based on AA (average audience) household rating, with change versus the comparable year-ago week in parentheses.

-King World’s Oprah, Dr. Phil and Inside Edition all hit season-highs in households. Inside Edition’s was its best in 37 weeks.

-Also reaching a season high in households: Buena Vista’s Live With Regis & Kelly and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.

In the battle of the three freshman first-run strips, aforementioned Judge Alex had a hefty lead with a 2.3 in households, followed by NBC Universal’s Martha (1.8), and Warner Bros.’ The Tyra Banks Show (1.7).

Fueled by Oprah’s 20th Anniversary follow-up and an appearance by upcoming talk show host Rachael Ray, King World’s Oprah roared to the winning finish line in syndication, with a whopping 9.0 household rating for the week of Nov. 21, 2005. Comparatively, that was Oprah’s highest national rating since the week of Feb. 17, 1997. Oprah also ranked No. 1 in all key women demos, with its highest rating among women 25-54 (6.8) since the week of May 9, 1994 and best among women 18-49 (5.9) since the week of Feb. 17, 1997. Also at King World was Inside Edition with a season-high in households (3.8) -- its highest in over one year.

Over at NBC Universal, freshman Martha perked up to a 1.9 in households -- its best performance since premiere week. Martha also scored a series-high among women 25-54 (1.2). Elsewhere, Maury (3.1), Blind Date (1.2) and three-year-old Starting Over (1.2) all hit season highs, while Access Hollywood Weekend scored its season best in households (2.3) and women 18-34 (1.2).

Paramount’s The Insider continues to pick up steam with a series high 3.0 in households for the second consecutive week, while parent Entertainment Tonight (5.5) tied its season high, ranking first in the magazine genre for 490 straight weeks. Paramount’s Judge Judy (4.6), Judge Joe Brown (3.4) and Montel (2.3); and Twentieth gaveler Judge Alex (2.4) also reached a new zenith in households this season.

Warner Bros. also had some crowing points, with freshman talker The Tyra Banks Show gaining momentum with a series-high performance in households (1.9), women 18-34 (1.7), women 18-49 (1.4) and women 25-54 (1.3).

What follows are the top 30 rated programs for the week of Nov. 21, 2005 in households (with change versus the comparable year-ago period in parentheses for all established series):

-Ratings Breakdown:
Anchored by the underrated NCIS, CBS led the Tuesday troops, with a first-place finish in the overnights, total viewers and adults 18-49. NCIS opened the evening with a dominant 11.4/17 in the overnights, 16.77 million viewers and a 4.2/12 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m. That led into the two-hour season-finale of The Amazing Race 8: Family Edition at a respectable, but non-spectacular, 7.4/11 in the overnights, 11.37 million viewers and a 4.6/12 among adults 18-49 from 9-11 p.m. While congratulations go to the Linz family, let’s hope the normally addictive Amazing Race never stoops to anything this gimmicky again.

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 are based on the fast affiliate ratings.

NBC’s once potent Fear Factor has sprung a ratings leak, with a 90-minute edition at a 5.2/ 8 in the overnights (#4), 8.42 million viewers (#3) and a 3.4/ 9 among adults 18-49 (#3) from 8-9:30 p.m. A 9:30 p.m. repeat of My Name Is Earl sunk to a 4.7/ 7 in the overnights (#4), 7.15 million viewers (#4) and a 3.0/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#3), followed by a repeat of Law & Order: SVU at a still solid 8.6/13 in the overnights (#1), 11.14 million viewers (#2) and a 3.7/10 among adults 18-49 (#2) at 10 p.m.

ABC bombarded us with the fading According To Jim last night. An original installment scored a second-place 6.1/ 9 in the overnights, 8.26 million viewers and a 3.0/ 9 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m.; followed by a Tuesday edition of Hope & Faith (Overnights: #2, 5.8/ 9; Viewers: #3, 8.04 million; A18-49: #4, 2.9/ 8); and two repeat episodes of the Jim Belushi sitcom at an average 6.0/ 9 in the overnights (#3), 8.04 million viewers (#3) and a 2.8/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#4) from 9-10 p.m. Ironically, it wasn’t that long ago when According To Jim was one of the few bright spots on ABC.

At 10 p.m., ABC’s Boston Legal, featuring the Golden Globe nominated Candice Bergen, capped off the evening with a 7.8/12 in the overnights (#2t), 9.92 million viewers (#3) and a 3.2/ 9 among adults 18-49 (#3).

Over at UPN, a repeat of the America’s Next Top Model season-finale finished last in the 8 p.m. hour with a 2.4/ 4 in the overnights, 2.41 million viewers and a 1.0/ 3 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m. That led into a repeat of The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which originally aired on CBS, at an improved (and fifth-place) 3.0/ 4 in the overnights, 3.34 million viewers and a 1.5/ 4 among adults 18-49 at 9 p.m.

On the WB, a repeat of the rejuvenated Gilmore Girls (Overnights: #5, 2.9/ 4; Viewers: #5, 3.12 million; A18-49: #5, 1.3/ 4) and a repeat of Supernatural (Overnights: #6, 2.3/ 3; Viewers: #6, 2.81 million; A18-49: #6, 1.1/ 3) were at typical non-original levels. That old remolded Walton’s house on Gilmore Girls is looking pretty darn good, don’t you think? John and Olivia would be proud!

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

National Ratings in Primetime:
Week of Dec. 5, 2005

In a landslide victory, CBS roared past the competition for the week of Dec. 5, 2005, with a first-place finish in households, total viewers, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and adults 18-34. This is the first time any network has won the first 12 weeks of the television season in viewers since NBC in 1988-89, and the Eye net shows no signs of slowing down until The Winter Olympics on NBC in February. Comparatively, CBS’ advantage over No. 2 ABC was a hefty 4.4 million viewers, and as much as 41 percent in the three surveyed demos. Part of CBS’ win can be attributed to the Survivor: Guatemala season-finale on Sunday, a season-high for CSI, a series-high for Close To Home, and the largest audience for 60 Minutes in more than five years.

Year-to-year, two networks -- CBS and UPN -- were on the rise, with CBS up by margins of 2 to 6 percent, and UPN as much as 21 percent among adults 18-34. Minus original episodes of Desperate Housewives, Lost and Commander in Chief, ABC slipped 7 to 10 percent over the year-ago week. NBC was down by 3 to 17 percent, while Fox slid further with losses of as much as 24 percent. The WB was close to year-ago levels.

Here are the final national ratings for the week of Dec. 5, 2005 (with percent change versus the comparable year-ago period in parentheses).

National Ratings in Syndication:
Nov. 2005 and Week of Nov. 28, 2005 Highlights

Rating highlights in syndication for the recently concluded November 2005 sweep are as follows:

OPRAH (King World)
Oprah scored an 8.2 rating in households – its best November sweep performance since 1996. In key demos, Oprah averaged a 6.1 among women 25-54 (its best since Nov. 1995), a 5.4 among women 18-49 (best since Nov. 1996), and a 4.6 among women 18-34 (highest since Nov. 1997). Oprah ranked No. 2 overall (behind Wheel Of Fortune) for the sweep in households, and No. 1 in women 18-49 and women 25-54.

JUDGE JUDY (Paramount)
The veteran gaveler averaged a 4.9 in households, making it the top-rated court show strip for the 37th straight sweep period. Judy was also No. 1 among adults 18-49 (1.7).

JUDGE JOE BROWN (Paramount)
Judge Joe Brown remained No. 2 in the court genre, with a 3.2 in households.

-Desire from Twentieth Television:
Twentieth Television will introduce Desire, a one-hour stripped franchise of multiple English-language telenovelas formatted from Latin America in the U.S. in 2006. A minimum of three telenovelas per year (65 episodes each) will be reproduced in English for U.S. distribution under the Desire banner. Included will be Table for Three from Columbia’s Caracol, and Cuban program Fashion House from Miami’s XYSTUS. Each Desire miniseries will be stripped Monday through Friday over a span of 13 weeks. Desire has been cleared on the Fox owned-and-operated television station group, representing almost 45 percent of the country.

TV Trivia Time:
The Golden Globes

Which one of the following freshman shows was not nominated for a Golden Globe Award?

for those who are interested: I always like to see how syndicated shows are doing.

mediaweek.com

-National Ratings In Syndication – Week of Dec. 5, 2005:
What follows are the top 20 rated programs in households for the week of Dec. 5 (with change versus the comparable year-ago period in parentheses):

-King World’s Wheel of Fortune tied its season high in households, while hitting a season high in women 25-54 (3.7), men 18-34 (1.5) and men 18-49 (2.2).

-King World’s Jeopardy! scored a season high in households, women 25-54 (2.8), men 18-49 (1.9) and men 25-54 (2.4).

-Buena Vista’s Live With Regis & Kelly and The Tony Danza Show (1.3) each hit a season-high in households, with an 18 percent week-to-week jump for Danza (1.1 to 1.3) the largest growth for any syndicated talker.

Note: The Programming Insider will not be published on Monday due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. See you live from The Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

-Ratings Breakdown:
On this Thursday of three-way leadership, rejuvenated ABC danced its way to victory in the overnights, repeat CBS was the most-watched network, and NBC dominated among adults 18-49. NBC’s relocated My Name Is Earl and The Office picked up steam from 9-10 p.m. p.m., NBC’s Four Kings remained promising, the debut of ABC’s Crumbs was off and running, and season two of the WB’s Beauty and the Geek fit like a glove out of Smallville. Yes, it was a great night for network TV, and proof of the unprecedented power of this medium.

ABC’s Dancing With the Stars got off to a rousing start, with a first-place 12.6/19 in the overnights, 17.22 million viewers and a 4.5/12 among adults 18-49 from 8-9:30 p.m. Comparatively, and including last week’s telecast, this was an improvement for ABC over the season to-date Thursday 8-9:30 p.m. block of 10.8 million viewers and 109 percent among adults 18-49. In addition, Dancing With the Stars is now ABC’s most-watched and highest rated series among adults 18-49 since Who Wants to Millionaire in the 1999-2000 season. Personally, I thought nervous Tatum O’Neal was better than overrated Tia Carrere.

While no one expected the debut of lead-out Crumbs at 9:30 p.m., the funniest new sitcom of the season, to fully maintain the Dancing With the Stars lead-in, a 9.3/14 in the overnights (#2), 12.04 million viewers (#2) and a third-place 3.6/ 9 among adults 18-49 (opposite the second half-hour of CBS’ repeat CSI) is a positive. Compared to the season to-date time period, this was an increase of 6.5 million viewers and 89 percent among adults 18-49. Excluding last week’s expanded edition of Dancing With the Stars, Crumbs also gave ABC its largest audience in the half-hour with regularly scheduled programming since Oct. 25, 2001. Welcome back, Fred Savage!

At 10 p.m., and opposite a repeat of CBS’ Without A Trace, ABC’s Primetime Live was above average at a 7.7/12 in the overnights, 9.23 million viewers and a 3.1/ 8 among adults 18-49.

Over at NBC, new Thursday anchor Will & Grace got some mileage, with a 7.4/11 in the overnights (#2), 9.69 million viewers (#2) and a first-place 4.4/12 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m. That led into week two of the compatible Four Kings at a respectable 6.5/10 in the overnights (#3), 9.13 million viewers (#2) and a second-place 4.5/12 among adults 18-49 at 8:30 p.m. Growth of one-tenth of a rating point among adults 18-49 out of Will & Grace (and opposite ABC’s Dancing With the Stars juggernaut) makes Four Kings a winner.

Week two of NBC Thursday 9 p.m. anchor My Name Is Earl perked up to an 8.6/12 in the overnights (#3), 12.52 million viewers (#3) and a first-place 5.9/15 among adults 18-49. That led into a vastly improved The Office at a 6.7/10 (#3) in the overnights, 10.29 million viewers (#3) and a second-place 5.1/12 among adults 18-49 -- another positive for NBC, which is suddenly back in business on Thursday. Sorry, Donald Trump -- it looks like you will definitely have to find another time period for the next edition of The Apprentice. You have been permanently evicted!

At 10 p.m., veteran NBC capped off the evening for NBC (opposite a repeat of CBS’ Without A Trace), with a first-place 11.7/17 in the overnights, 15.41 million viewers and a 6.7/18 among adults 18-49.

The WB had plenty to crow about last night, with the season two premiere of Beauty & the Geek at a series-high 3.8/ 6 in the overnights (#4t), 4.85 million viewers (#5) and a 2.3/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#5) at 9 p.m. Comparatively, that was an increase over the year ago occupant, repeat theatrical Love & Basketball, of 4.9 million viewers, and as much as 114 percent among adults 18-34. It was also the best rating in the time period in the 18-34 demo since the debut of The Surreal Life on Jan. 9, 2003, and best among women 12-34 since May 2002. Better yet for Beauty & the Greek was the retention out of lead-in Smallville (Overnights: #4t, 3.8/ 6; Viewers: #5, 5.22 million; A18-49: #5, 2.2/ 6 at 8 p.m.).

Over at Fox, veteran That ‘70s Show moved into the 8 p.m. time period with a modest 3.6/ 5 in the overnights (#5), 5.07 million viewers (#4) and a 2.4/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#4) at 8 p.m. That led into a repeat of the sitcom with a similar 3.8/ 6 in the overnights (#5), 5.47 million viewers (#4) and a 2.6/ 7 (#4) among adults 18-49 at 8:30 p.m., which is notably below former occupant The O.C. Although The O.C., now at 9 p.m., performed at similar levels, a 3.8/ 5 in the overnights (#4t), 5.15 million viewers (#4) and a 2.5/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#4) at 9 p.m. was a marked improvement from former occupant Reunion. Word of advice to That ‘70s Show -- start packing!

-Final Wednesday Nationals:
ABC, as usual, led the Wednesday troops on the strength of Lost, which netted a considerable 20.56 million viewers and an 8.5/20 among adults 18-49 at 9 p.m. Also impressive in the hour was CBS’ rock-solid Criminal Minds, at 15.92 million viewers and a 4.8/11 among adults 18-49.

In series-premiere news, the two-hour launch of UPN drama South Beach disappointed at a last-place 2.13 million viewers and a 0.9/ 2 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. Over at the WB, 9 p.m. special, Beauty & the Geek Casting Call, lifted the time period to a season-high among persons 12-34 (1.6/ 4), males 12-34 (1.2/ 4), adults 18-34 (1.6/ 4), men 18-34 (1.3/ 4), men 18-49 (1.0/ 3), teens (1.8/ 6) and female teens (2.6/ 8).